Description

Social Work Practice in the Military provides military social workers, military scholars, and civilian social workers with an overview of diverse practice settings as well as the history and future of military social work practice to give you an understanding of the military persona as an ethnic identity. This unique book provides in-depth coverage of issues such as family violence, substance abuse, medical social work, combat settings, ethical dilemmas, managed care's impact on the military, and much more. Social Work Practice in the Military is an essential guide for anyone working with military clients, families of military personnel, or near a military installation. This valuable book contains input from top current and past leaders within the ranks of military social workers to bring you a wide spectrum of firsthand ideas and input to help you better assist your military clients.Social Work Practice in the Military will help you better understand the diversity of social work practice within the military and the many unique situations a military social worker must face. This informative book will provide you with specific ways of improving the lives of your military clients and their families, such as:

understanding how the most rapidly expanding arena of practice, family advocacy, which includes a broad array of family violence prevention and intervention services, can help military clients

learning how TRICARE, the military managed health care program, impacts military families and social workers in order to provide your clients with the best care while working within the limited budget of a managed care program

analyzing the historical discussions of the changing view of substance abuse treatment within the military and how you can best provide effective, multilevel services to your clients

examining the extensive involvement of military social workers in a myriad of medical social work programs serving patients and families to help you offer the best patient care in situations involving domestic violence and drug abuse

discovering essential skills for military social workers, such as, effective involvement in combat or deployed situations

Through Social Work Practice in the Military, you will better understand the importance of your many roles as clinician, advocate, policymaker, resource liaison, and organizational consultant and learn how to successfully accomplish every one of these roles. Containing insight into the future directions of practice, this valuable book will help you effectively assist military clients and their families with the various challenges they face.

Table of Contents

Contents About the Editor

Contributors

Foreword

Senior Editor's Comments

Preface

About the Contributors

Part I: Historical Contexts of Practice

Chapter 1: History of Army Social Work

The Civilian Connection with the Army

The Enlisted Social Work Contributions

The Social Work Officer

The Role of the Psychiatric Social Worker

Medical Social Workers

Stockades

The Army Community Service (ACS)

Education and Training

Conclusion

Chapter 2: History of Navy Social Work

Chapter 3: History of Air Force Social Work

Introduction

Organizational Structure

Personnel

Evolution of Practice

Catalysts for Practice

Summary

Addendum--Social Work Task Force Initiative to Address Critical Issues for Social Work Practice

Part II: Practice Arenas

Chapter 4: Development and Evolution of the Family Advocacy Program in the Department of Defense

Introduction

Background and History

Service Program Development

Role of Social Workers

Conclusion

Chapter 5: The Increasing Impact of TRICARE on Military Social Work Practice

Overview of TRICARE

Military Social Work Practice in a TRICARE Environment

Chapter 6: Military Social Work Practice in Substance Abuse Programs

Conceptual Model for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services in the Military

Development of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs in the Armed Forces

Certification/Professionalization

Changes in Treatment Modality

Social Worker Skills for Providing Substance Abuse Services in the Military

Addressing Illegal Drug Use in the Armed Forces

Chapter 7: Medical Social Work in the U.S. Armed Forces

Historical Background

Today's Medical Social Worker

Unique Aspects of Military Social Work

Conclusion

Chapter 8: Military Social Work Practice in Mental Health Programs

Overview of Mental Health Services Within the Military

Contrast of Mental Health and Other Social Welfare Programs Within the Military

The Future of Military Social Workers Within the Mental Health Clinic

Chapter 9: Military Social Work Officers in Support of Combat and Non-Combat Military Operations

Introduction

A Brief Historical Overview of Social Work Roles Within the Context of Military Mental Health Support in Combat Operations

Combat and Other Operational Mental Health Principles and the Role of the Social Work Officer

Some Examples of Social Work Officer Involvement in Combat and Noncombat Stress Interventions

The Future

A Guide for Social Work Officers Assigned to Division Mental Health Teams or Other Combat Stress Control Settings

Some Important Considerations for Social Work Officers Assigned to a Deployable Status

Core Readings for a Library on Combat and Operational Mental Health

Chapter 10: Social Work in the Military: The Role of Social Work in Policy Practice

Introduction

The Changing Military

Practice in the Context of the Military Culture Policy

Frameworks for Policy Practice in the Military

U. S. Navy Social Work and Policy Practice

U. S. Army Social Work and Policy Practice

U. S. Air Force Social Work and Policy Practice

Conclusion

Part III: Unique Issues of Military Social Work

Chapter 11: Common and Unique Ethical Dilemmas Encountered by Military Social Workers